Where All Paths Meet

Before the colonist arrived, there was once a “Native American United Nations” – and societies that brought out the best in people. We did it once. We can do it again!
Hot Springs, Arkansas was once the “Native American United Nations.” Indigenous paths from all over North, Central and South America all converged there. It was called “The Valley of the Vapors” – truly mystical! And it was to break this “Sacred Hoop” that the US government made Hot Springs the first National Park – so tribes could no longer gather and find unity there.

Very little is known about this valley in pre-colonial times and my research for my book, The Beauty Path: A Native American Journey into One Love, did not turn up references to it. Like so many “Indian legends” it could be completely true, exaggerated or a total fabrication. All the information below is from the only book available on the valley, Indian Folklore Atlas of Hot Springs National Park by Marcus Phillips and Sandra Long.

According to their research, original people have been in the valley for at least 10,000 years. It was also called “Nowasalon,” “Manataka” or “Valley of the Vapors,” “Valley of Peace” or “Place of Peace.” The nearby Caddo Indians considered it the “Garden of Eden.” There were no permanent settlements or residents in the valley. That’s why archeologists cannot find many artifacts in the valley; however, the novaculite flint from this area has been found in artifacts of tribes all over North America.

The quality of the local crystal is considered by both gemologists and collectors as the purest in the country, perhaps the world, with some growing to boulder-sized formations. Two large crystal formations have been located miles apart in the area. Scientist believe they are connected deep underground making them in reality one huge crystal formation. Nowasalon is in the exact middle of these two mammoth crystals.

The book says that the hot spring water began as rainwater and then it slowly seeped into the Earth. Thousands of feet down it is superheated and shoots into these 47 springs through faults and crevices, picking up curative minerals on its journey to the surface. This process takes over three thousand years so the water, which is completely free of bacteria and slightly radioactive, is very old and very pure. Different springs are curative for different ailments.

In pre-contact times, there were trails coming into the valley from all directions. Tribes from all over the continent would journey here. These trails linked with major trading trails that traversed the whole country. Native tribes in both North and South America were linked in a vast network of trade. During times of famine, trade partners sent food. Guatemalan macaw feathers were used by Taos Indians of New Mexico and indigenous people in Honduras made pipes from Minnesota pipestone. According to the book, this ancient trail system was like a giant wheel and Nowasalon was the hub of intertribal activity and diplomacy. It was not only neutral ground, it was sacred ground.

Legends say a beautiful Indian princess would appear and drop an eagle feather at the feet of the angry parties reminding them to let their anger fly out of the valley. Great councils for all tribes, some so large that they encircled the entire valley, would be held with singing and dancing around great campfires. Medicine lodges were erected. It was said that rare healing plants grew in a great circle around the valley. They were gathered by the women of the tribes while the men gathered precious healing crystals and clay, along with flint, gold, silver, pyrite, and whetstones.

The local novaculite rock was highly valued for its fine flint for making tools and weapons. Gifts were exchanged among individuals and tribes to foster friendship and diplomacy. Friends and relatives separated by marriage would reunion here. Legends also say that the elders and chiefs of warring tribes would meet here to resolve their differences—a sort of Native American UN. Many tribes met here and exchanged stories and shared their simplistic technology, their ceremonies and rituals.

People from different tribes would sit in the hot springs or gather flint together or sit around campfires at night and exchange stories. It was a festive atmosphere, like being at a huge family gathering. They learned from each other. The medicine men and shamans shared their knowledge of medicinal plants. The women exchanged recipes, techniques for basketry, pottery and fashion designs. Though they learned each other’s tribal languages, there was a universal sign language that everyone understood — a common all-tribe language that is now lost, perhaps forever.

There were tribal and inter-tribal dances and drumming circles in a central plaza and just outside the valley, blankets were spread out with items for trade. People would share their campfires at night with people from other tribes. Those who were familiar with the springs and plants would share their knowledge with the newcomers.

The tranquility of the Valley of the Vapors came to an end in 1832 by order of President Andrew Jackson, who considered Indians “savage dogs,” and was the mastermind of many racial atrocities, including the infamous Cherokee Trail of Tears. Jackson pushed Congress to take an unprecedented action in the nation’s history, and one that was unconstitutional, by confiscating Nowasalon. Jackson was warned by the United States Supreme Court the government was prohibited by the Constitution to own land but he continued anyway. Understandably concerned about any place that might cause tribes to gather and unify, the valley was declared national land and the springs were dammed up. It was the first (and smallest) national reserve. Over time, hot springs resorts were built for tourists. A few remain but only one of the 47 springs is now accessible.
From The Beauty Path: A Native American Journey into One Love by Robert Roskind

This is so much bigger than another election cycle. This planet is entering into a love-based reality but how painful this birth will be is still up to us. This 5000-year-old exploiting, warring, totally unconscious system (Babylon) is falling, desperately trying to maintain its power even after it’s insane reality has been finally exposed for all to see.

Over the millennia, it has been forced to cede power and it always happens the same. A small group of committed people say, “It’s been like this a long time (kings, slavery, women not voting, English ruling India, civil rights, apartheid, etc.) but it does not have to continue no matter how much others believe it cannot be changed.” And they devote themselves to getting more and more people to hold that vision until a tipping point is reached and the old system crumbles.

In the past, this changes has taken centuries, then decades. Now because of the global consciousness of the Internet and the fact that this is a global collapse of this insane system, it is taking years, at times months. Maybe soon things might change in days, even hours. Bernie is exposing the system while reminding us “Enough is Enough.” The country, the planet is awakening. He is doing his Divinely-given assignment, as are many others. We are heading towards the global tipping point. We are heading HOME!

The old-paradigm fear-based world is collapsing while a new-paradigm love-based world is rising. The collapse is getting much media attention while the rise is getting only a little on alternative outlets. Most now sense the collapse but to really be plugged into this new world rising you need to be involved in its birth in it in whatever way you feel guided. Then you are connected to your own personal tribe of helpers and you will see this birth everywhere, everyday. A “global Rosa Parks moment” is coming!

It is now quite apparent that for most of this country’s history we have been an oligarchy cleverly disguised as a democracy. Both parties played their roles – as did almost all of our elected officials – in this long-running national deception. That is until Bernie Sanders entered.

One uncorrupted individual caused the veil to be pulled back and the Wizard of Oz stood blinking in the light. He was not the only nor the first one to expose this darkness, nor will he be the last but he – like Gandhi, MLK, Jr, Tutu, Mandela – has carried out his assignment with character and integrity.

Just the mere fact that – finally – in this presidential cycle, the oligarchy has lost their cover and they have lost control of the message, is an indication that this insane, dark system is weak and unraveling. Their usual machinations now appear transparent, desperate and ineffective. Their world – after 5000 painful years – is collapsing.

Our planet awakens – sensing, believing, knowing a better world is possible. And in this new awareness, we will create it. It will not be easy or painless but Universal law of free will dictates that we had to create it in our hearts and minds first before it could manifest in the physical form. It IS manifesting.

Rising (not falling) in Love

So here I am in my sixties, after 32 years married and now three years single – and a four decades into my spiritual search. So how do I bring all these elements together as I am now “available” for my next couple’s journey. There are some conclusions I have reached as I open myself to yet another amazing gift – meeting my “twin soul” – from a loving Creator who has already gifted me so much.

I now seek as much as a romantic partner, a life companion and co-worker; someone who will help me stay awake – as I help them – to the Reality that we chose to incarnate here with a Divinely-given assignment – to learn and teach love through forgiveness and compassion; someone who will assist me in my individualized assignment as I help them in their’s and as we join together to do a joint assignment (pun intended).

And as I have started dating and courting, the physical component (often referred to as “sex”) enters in. In this area, I have arrived at another principle for me for “rising in love” – the level of my physical commitment needs to match the level of my emotional, mental and spiritual commitment. This assists in avoiding the trap of using my body – and that of another – as a “pleasuring vehicle” instead of a”communication vessel” to communicate to other bodies that we are not just bodies but Spirit too.”

If I am beginning to explore possibilities with someone, hand holding and kissing seems natural. Ongoing, each deepening – emotional, mental and spiritual – can be matched by a deepening physical exploration (again, pun intended). All else would be lower root chakra driven which usually leads to a painful wakeup call. To go “all the way” physically, I need to be “all the way” in ALL areas (this decision has now created two years of celibacy making me an “honorary virgin.” The one lapse was part of my “learning curve” and she was a beautiful French woman and you know how those French women are.)

RISING (NOT FALLING) IN LOVE PART 2

I am one of the many boomers who, after decades married, find myself single in my sixties. It’s kind of thrilling. You never know when you might meet someone and take another run at a romantic relationship – this time after decades of hard-won life wisdom and spiritual searching. After three years that included several courtships and one romance, I’m learning a few things but not yet quite enough to have created a new-paradigm, love-based union that I intend to. I may be close. Time will tell.

Here’s a few things I have learned.

In the last four decades, we have developed love-based, new-paradigm alternatives – or embraced ancient ones – in almost every area of our lives (solar, wind, holistic health, organic foods, natural childbirth, hospice, women and gay rights movements, validation of many spiritual paths, self-help, yoga, meditation, conscious music that “downloads the instructions,” etc.). However, the last frontier seems to be in our romantic unions. This is understandable as we are seeking to create a non-codependent, love-based love relationship. It ain’t easy!

Certain people have been called to bring forward clear, life-sustaining alternatives in many areas so that we might birth this new age of love and spirituality and create the Heaven on Earth that is possible. Just as the people who pioneered solar, holistic health, organic gardening, etc. are the ones who had – by their nature – a compelling draw and attraction to that area of life, so, too, are the pioneers of new-paradigm unions those who have always had an inner calling to express love in every area of their lives. They will be the “givers,” the emotional healers, the “lovers.” They are the ones for whom the giving and receiving of love – in its myriad of forms – was always one, if not “the,” top priority in their lives.

In the past, those who remember life is “for giving” often got deeply involved with those whom viewed life as “for getting.” Many of these people, these “awakened givers,” out of their healthy desire to love as well as their own unhealed insecurities and fears, have chosen to get involved with people who had a need to be loved but often difficulty in giving and expressing love – “sleeping givers”. Usually, these unions have been frustrating and painful. Since unlike other areas, this effort takes two people, I am beginning to believe that this vital work of forming – finally – true love-based, spiritual unions is best accomplished if both are “awakened givers.”

(This reasoning to be continued and posted on my FB page under “Wisdom Blog” on my website www.OasisCarrboro.com under “

To be continued . . .

Post navigation

HOURS

We are open during the day as a coffee & tea house/cafe. At nights, we transform into a gathering spot for connections, inspiration and information by offering life-affirming presentations on weekdays and heart-centered live music or Spiritual Cinemas on some Fridays and Saturdays.